Precision golf in the hills of Yaotsu

Gifu Spring Golf Club sits in the rolling hills of Yaotsu in southern Gifu Prefecture, around an hour's drive from Nagoya. Opened in 2001 and laid out by Mitsuo Yoshizaki, the 18-hole, par-72 course is built around the natural contours of the land, and it rewards accuracy rather than raw distance. A varied mix of middle-length and long holes keeps every round interesting, and the club itself recommends the course for intermediate and advanced players.

Here the fairway is a puzzle to be solved, not a runway to be overpowered.

Riding carts with GPS navigation make it easy to work your way around the hills, and bentgrass greens on every hole give a true roll. Beyond the course, Yaotsu is a quiet riverside town on the Kiso River and the hometown of diplomat Chiune Sugihara, whose memorial hall is a moving stop for visitors. The wider Kani and Mino areas are known for countryside scenery that turns golden in autumn. To get there, drive about 9 km from the Kani-Mitake interchange on the Tokai-Kanjo Expressway. Meitetsu Yaotsu Station is about five minutes away by taxi. That makes the club an easy day trip from Nagoya, or a relaxed stop on the way into the Gifu mountains.